Fastest 100 m in Slovakia, 8 meet records

DUBNICA (SVK): Full stadium celebrated at 9th Athletics Bridge (EA Classic) meeting records in 8 out of 13 events. Some 5000 spectators saw the fastest 100 m ever in Slovakia. Beijing medalist Richard Thompson clocked in lane 1 superb 10.05 (+0.8) despite little cold weather at the end of the meeting. Kim Collins was second 10.07 ahead of Michael Frater 10.09 and Dwain Chambers 10.10. Life-time best for fifth Briton Luke Fagan 10.21. "It was my last race of the season and I wanted to end it with a bang," said Thompson. Previous meet record was 10.12 and Slovak all-comers record 10.07 by Calvin Smith since 1988. Also in women 100 m new meet record by Jamaican Schillonie Calvert 11.17 with head-wind -0.7. Another top mark was delivered by shot put world champion Valerie Adams who was enjyoing the huge crowd support she is getting here. First in round two 20.42 improving her own event best from last year by 5 cm and then huge 20.83 in round three added by 20.07 and 20.50 in last two throws. Also superb women hammer battle was seen in central Slovakian city. In round two Betty Heidler improved the meet record to 75.16 but immediately after her world champion Tatyana Lysenko added 75.80. But that was not enough as Heidler in round five achieved the winning mark 75.83 and had in total four 75+ results. Also third Yipsi Moreno with 74.21 showed very solid late season shape. Men´s hammer saw fourth win in Dubnica for Daegu silver winner Krisztian Pars of Hungary 79.95. Not only in hammer but also in other two events world champions did not win. In dramatic steeple unexpected winner Bernard Mbugua clocked 8:12.27 ahead of favorites Paul Kipsiele Koech 8:16.62 and Ezekiel Kemboi 8:20.80. All three were faster than previous meet record. In men´s high jump Jesse Williams had close attempts at 230 but because of clearing 227 in third he lost on count-back with Bahamian Trevor Barry who went over 227 in second attempt. For high jumpers it was at the end of the meet little bit cold. But not for hurdles Daegu winner Jason Richardson who posted in last event of the meet impressive second fastest ever in Slovakia and second fastest of his career 13.08 (-0.1). Bronze winner from Daegu Andy Turner was way back second 13.49. Other meet records also for Olympic winner LaShawn Merritt in the 400 m 45.75 (tight bends here on six lane track) and Daegu finalist Yulia Rusanova 2:00.88 in the women 800 m. Also meet best for Czech Daegu 7th placer Jirina Ptacnikova of Czech Republic with 450 clearance in the pole vault. Legends competed in women 100 m B-race. French European record holder Christine Arron was second (11.76, -1.0) and Merlene Ottey representing Slovenia clocked highly impressive 11.92 as third. "I will continue to run until I have fun," she said. World championships silver winner Russian Olga Kucherenko leaped to 661 (-0.3) and won the long jump but missed the meet record by 3 cm.

18 medalists including five individual winners, Robles vs. Richardson

DUBNICA: The biggest one day meet in Slovakia, the 9th Athletics Bridge in Dubnica will offer a superb fields for September 15th. In total 18 medalists from Daegu will compete with the addition that hammer world champion Koji Murofushi will be a guest of honour there. In the list four individual winners (Williams, Adams, Richardson, Lysenko, Kemboi) added by four gold medalists in relays (Frater, Merritt, Torrance, Nixon). Special highlights mens hurdles with Robles-Richardson revenge, men´s 100 m with five sub 10 sprinters and both hammer throw competitions. In every one of 13 events a meeting record attack is possible.
9th Athletics Bridge, Dubnica nad Vahom, EA Classic meeting, top athletics one day meet in Slovakia

EVENT BY EVENT PREVIEW

MEN

100 m: First ever sub 10 in Slovakia? Relay world record holder and world champion Michael Frater, Indoor world and European champion Dwain Chambers, Beijing medalist and 9.85 this year Richard Thompson and Daegu hero and twice bronze medalist Kim Collins of St. Kitts. In total four sprinters with sub 10 bests.

400 m: 2008 olympic winner and 2009 world champion LaShawn Merritt is back and after silver in Daegu and gold in relay he goes to smash the meet record 45.86. Also running other two Daegu relay gold medalist Jamaal Torrance and Greg Nixon against 2009 world medalist Renny Quow of Trinidad.

Steeple: Ever fast Paul Kipsiele Koech, the fresh Diamond Race winner is going to break the meet record by a big margin, his aim is to run under 8:10. But meet record holder and double world champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be also there. Their Zurich duel will be repeated. Interesting to watch Conseslas Kipruto, the new young star from Kenya who won the World U17 gold medal in July in France. It will be his debut in a fast senior race.

110m H: The top highlight. World record holder and olympic winner Dayron Robles runs against two hurdlers who were on the podium in Daegu which he missed after beeing disqualified. Gold medalist Jason Richardson and bronze winner Andy Turner of UK.

High Jump: World Champion Jesse Williams with bronze medalist Trevor Barry competing with World indoor champion Ivan Ukhov of Russia. Organizers are hoping they will be able to attack the meet record of 232 set by Stefan Holm in 2008.

Hammer Throw: World champion Koji Murofushi will be in the stands as honorary guest. But 2nd, 3rd and 4th will fight on the ground - Krisztian Pars with Primoz Kozmus and Markus Esser. Pars will be at the meeting for 8th time in a row, that means he missed only the first edition in 2003. In summary he won three times, has two second places and one third and one fourth.


WOMEN

100 m: Will the female runners still have the shape to attack the meet record of 11.25 ? Contenders fastest current European and Daegu only European finalist Ivet Lalova against Jamaican relay silver winner Sherone Simpson and Ukrainian European indoor champion and Daegu bronze relay winner Olesya Povkh. Solid shape is also expected from 2009 relay world champion Aileen Bailey and another Jamaican Schillonie Calvert who was fast recently in Rieti. In special race two legends of athletics will run, the ever young Merlene Ottey against French Christine Arron.

200 m: Lalova, Simpson, Povkh, Bailey all back for second clash of the day.

800 m: Russian World finalist from Daegu Yulia Rusanova against the clock, here many last minute withdrawals. Still the hope to break meet record of 2:01.41 exists.

Pole Vault: Two Daegu finalists Czech Jirina Ptacnikova and Cuban Yarisley Silva with two high quality Russians Aleksandra Kiryashova and Tatyana Polnova should be the guarantee that the meet record 447 will go.

Long Jump: World silver winner Olga Kucherenko of Russia is the favorite, but seven metres jumper Olga Zaytseva who needs to show something after she failed to qualify in Daegu to the finals is also in top shape after winning in Rieti.

Shot Put: World Champion Valerie Adams will attack her own meet record from last year 20.37 m.

Hammer Throw: Another revenge after Daegu world champion Tatyana Lysenko vs. world record holder and silver medalist Betty Heidler of Germany. Also in the field fourth placer from Korea and former world champion Yipsi Moreno of Cuba.

 Results

National

 100 m

 100 m